Automatic telephone switch



T. LENAGHAN AUTOMATIC TELEPHONE SWITCH Feb. 24. 192 5.

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 12. 1922 mg i Y M,

Feb. 24. .1925.

T. LENAGHAN AUTOMATIC TELEPHONE SWITCH 2 Sheets-Shae 2 Filed June 12, 1922 Patented Feb. 24, 1925.

PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS LENAGHAN, OF CROYDO'N, ENGLAND.

AUTOMATIC TELEPHONE SWITCH.

Application filed. June 12, 1922. Serial No. 567,830.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS LENAGHAN, asubject of the King of Great Britain and Ireland, residing at Croydon, in the county of Surrey, England, have invented Improvements in or Relating to Automatic Tolephone Switches, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to motor mechanism for use in general wherever it may be desired to impart rectilinear movement to av member, or any one, or a selected number, of a series of members from a constantly rotating prime mover, with the possibility, if desired, of varying the speed of movement of such member or members at some point in the travel.

To this end the invention provides for mechanism, embodying a blade associated with av undirectional rotating shaft, and a cam arrangement such that in the course of a revolution of the shaft an edge of such blade is constrained to move in a straight path of limited extent, during which time it can be placed in temporary driving engagement with the member or members to be operated. More specifically considered such mechanism comprises a multiplicity of blades as aforesaid so that a succession of straight line movements can be obtained in the course of a single revolution. This rotary mechanism may be driven at a constant speed, or variable speed gear may be employed adapted to be operated through the member or members which the rotary mechanism is designed to actuate when such member or one thereof, reaches a predetermined point in its travel.

The rectilinear edge motion of any such blade may be selectively imparted to one or more of a set of elements adapted to be reciprocate-d, and any one or more of a set of members to be actuated may be pro-selectively clutched to the element or elements aforesaid. The means for placing such a. blade in driving connection with a reciprocating element may comprise devices movable angularly about an axis or axes parallel to the direction of reciprocation. One such device may be movable with the reciproeating element and be adapted to be moved into and out of the path of the blade of the rotary motor mechanism in accordance with alteration in the angular position of the other device which does not move longitudinally with. the element aforesaid but may rotate it and cooperates With a stationary guide to which it can at any desired moment clamp the reciprocating element whilst disengaged from the rotary motor mechanism. For compactness and convenience the reciprocating element and guide may be concentric telescopically arranged members of circular cross section, the rotary device that controls the movement of the reciprocating element being feathered to both the latter and the guide in such a manner that whereas it is capable of only a restricted angular movement between the limits of reciprocation and thus can then act to bind the guide and element together, it is free to make a larger excursion at the ends of the reciprocation and permit of the reciprocating element occupying an angular position in relation to the guide which during movement in one direction is differentto that during movement in the opposite direction.

The uses of such a numerous.

In the case of an automatic telephone exchange to which the invention further relates, the mechanism may be employed to actuate the switches employed for establish ing the connections when a call is being dealt with.

But in order that the invention may be more readily understod it will be further described in connection with an automatic telephone system of the kind forming the subject of my Letters Patent No. 1,472,604 without intention however of placing any undue limitation upon details which may be varied to suit different requirements.

Speed of operation in telephoning is essential and the reduction of work to be performed with its consequent wear and tear is important. Vith these objects in view I arrange that it shall only be necessary to set in motion that particular switch of a series in vertical alignment which is in the zone of contacts comprised in any one section into which a bank may be horizontally divided, the other switches of the series remaining idle.

Although only a single vertical series of switches is referred to it will be recognized that the expression is meant to cover any number of such series from which any desired switch selection may be made.

Briefly each vertical series of switches may be associated with a tube free to slide mechanism are along astationary guide rod, being raised by the motor mechanism employed and descending under the action of gravity. The lower end of this tube or oi an extension connected thereto is slotted to an extentcorresponding to the travel desired and the inner guide rod is similarly providedwith a pair of parallel grooves which communicate through gates at the'top and bottom so as to produce a. narrow isolated rib. The

'tu'be'is titted internally witha pin adapted to'enter and ascend one groove, pass through the upper g ate into the adjacent groove,

descend and then re-enterthe first groove by way of the lower gate. A rocking collar held against aaial movement may be located near t'he'u'pper end of the slot in the tube and provided with a pin or key entering the slot; the arrangement being such that the collar can be oscillated asby a spring and ele'otric'relay combination in order to turn thetu'be and to allow it either to be elevated,

' or todescendor to cause it to be temporarily loclre-dby a binding action of the tube pin upon theguid'e'rib referred to. Each switch I may comprise a member pivotally mounted upon a carriage through which the'tube described passes, such switch member being initially latched to the carriage so that the latter is prevented from acting to connect.

it to thetube, andbeing latched to the carriagc again as the end of the upward travel is reached in order to release the carriage from the tube and hold the switch member in a position where it cannot engage the bank-contacts. The locking of the carriage to the'tube'may beettectedhy a pin adapted to be inserted in and withdrawn from a notch-in tl'ie tubeby a forked arm upon the switch member.

The switch .member may comprise two arms'pivoted to the carriage so that the tube and rod and carrier for the contact bars through which the various electrical con motions are maintained occupy a position between the-arm's. In order that there shall bepractically instantaneous engagement betweenthe various spring fingers of the switch member and the several companion punchings in the contact bank, it is pre 't'erred to make such fingers of relatively stiff metal and to mount them in a holder that is pivotedto the arms of the switch member and is acted upon by springs, the

arrangement being such that it there be any V responding to the number of switches but each being ang'ularly displaced in relation to another. Any tripper can thus be brought into position beneath the device that serves to latch the corresponding switch carriage to the tube so that longitudinal movement imparted to the tripper rod will result in an unlatching-ot the carriage and its connection to the tube. The step-by-step rotation of the tripper rod may be efiected by a ratchet and pawl, operated electro magnetically and'in order to secure the limited axial displacement of the rod necessary to unlatch a switchcarriage, such rod may be briefly coupled to the'tube by means of a device upon the'rod having a series of arms corresponding in number to'the trippers and switches. Each arm is adapted to enter a notchin the tube whilst stationary, the arm;

that ultimately dwells therein whilst the tube rises bein determined by the particular tripper brought intouse. Two rotational steps of the armed device are involved in bringing each arm into use so that the arm' only dwells in the notch long enough to ett'ect the trip where-upon it is removed and the tube permitted to continue its travel without further moving the trip-per rod which is free to return to its lowest position;

The rotary motor mechanism for elevatingthe tubes may comprise say sixteen blades housed in radial slots formed in a pair of discs mounted on a shaft arranged horizontally adjacent to the bottom of the contact bank. Each disc may rotate in proximity to a stationary cheek formed with a continuous cam groove whichinshape is partly circular and partly straight with a uniting portion of more or less abrupt cur vature, the said stra1ght portion being say tangential to the periphery of the disc. By

means of rollers upon the ends of the bladesit will be obvious that rotation of the discs gradually results in projection and retrac tion of the blades from the slots, the straight 7 portions of the cam grooves causing the outer edge of each blade in succession to travel verticallyparallel to the tubes to be raised. Each blade may be furnished with a roll edge, and each tube of the switch mechanism described may be provided at the lower end with an arm having a roller adapted to be engaged by the roll edge of the blade, such arm being so disposed that when the relay employed to turn the tube is energized it occupies a position perpendicular to the blade'edge. Vfhen the relay releases, due, in this particular system, to the requisite balance being established, the arm referred to will be moved out of the path of the blade and will not be again moved into said path until the travel of the switch is to be continued.

If it should be desired to cause" the switches to move faster at the commencemeut than towards the end of their travel,

the arm that engages the motor blades may be made use of to close the circuit of a relay controlling the clutch of a two speed gear, firstly so that the higher speed is obtained and subsequently the lower.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings, which show the subject of this invention as applied to a telephone system as described in my Letters Patent Serial No. 1,- 472,604, although it must be understood that the scope of the invention is not limited to the aforementioned system or to telephone systems solely, the illustration being merely given .to show the application of the invention to one of a number of practical objects.

From what has now been said, a general idea of the invention will be clear to those skilled in the art.

A detailed description Will now be given with reference to the accompanying drawings; of which Figs. 1 and 1 together show an isometric view of the invention. Figs. 2, 3 and 4 show cross section views on line A-A of the member 20 F ig. 1, Fig. 5 shows an elevation of the member 15, Fig. 1, Fig. 6 being a side view of the member 27 Fig. 1 and Fig. 7 shows an improved method of connecting the carriage 13 Fig. 1.

Referring now to Fig. 1, wherein 23 is a common drive member which operates shaft 26, by way of counter shaft and clutch 24, the said clutch being under the control of electro-magnets 25. The clutch on moving to the right against pressure of spring transmits high speed rotation to shaft 26 and when moved to left transmits slow speed to the said shaft. The operation of the magnets 25 to reduce the speed being due to finger 53 contacting with a given one of contacts 56.

F astened to shaft 26 are a number of circular plates 27, shown in detail in Fig. 6, in which are cut a number of slots 28; loosely fitting in the slots 28 are a number of plates or paddles 29 Fig. 1, which are fitted with rollers 30 running in grooves 31 cut in the end plates 32, the purpose of the rollers and guide grooves being to control the projection and retraction of the plates 29, in such a manner that when facing the tubes 48 they shall at their outer edges travel in a vertical plane to operate the said tubes.

The blades 29 are fitted with a rolled edge to ensure an even bearing surface to the feet 21, and are slotted at intervals as shown at to allow of the said feet, when moved in an angular direction, to clear the blades, on the desired verticalmovement being accomplished.

Facing the blades are a number of vertical slotted tubes such as 4748-49, each having arms 21 fitted thereon, the said tubes being capable of vertical motion by way of the aforesaid blades 29 and of angular motion by way of springs 22 and magnets 19, the magnets 19 being operated to rotate the tubes to bring the foot 21 in alignment with the blade 29 when vertical motion is required. This action is clearly shown in Fig. 4 wherein 54 is the collar arm connected to magnet 19 which, when operated transmits angular motion by way of projection 20 to tube 14, and thence to foot 21.

Before elevating either of the tubes it is necessary to unlatch the particular car riage facing the bank in which the desired line or trunk is located. This is accomplished by the operation of magnets 38 to rotate the rods 41, on which are fitted a number of fingers, such as 57, angularly displaced in relation to each other and arranged on the rod being elevated a given distance, to release one of the latches 42 to allow of pin 43 entering slot 44 to elevate the carriage 13. The elevation of rod 41 is accomplished by the star wheel 40 engaging in slot 45, which on the tube being elevated also elevates rod 41. As the dis tance in which 41 is required to travel is limited, it is arranged to again operate magnets 38, one step thereby disengaging 40 from slot 45, two operations of 38 being necessary to engage one of the projections of 40 with the tube. On magnet 19 being operated, thereby engaging foot 21 with one of the blades 29, the tube and the unlatched carriage are elevated until the desired level is reached when the magnet 19 is disengaged when spring 22 Fig. 4, acting on collar 20, forces pin 37 against rib 36 to disengage foot 21 from the blade 29 and to bind the tube in that position.

In Fig. 1 tube 48 is shown in the travelling position operating carriage 51, whilst tube 49 is shown, with carriage 52, in the engaged position and tube 4'? is shown in the normal position.

On the connection being terminated mag net 19 is again engaged until the carriage reaches the top of the bank when trigger 46 forces the pivoted bracket under the latch 42 to withdraw pin 49 from slot 44 It) when the carriage drops to the botom of the bank.

On magnet 19 being disengaged, on the top of the bank being reached, spring 22 again rotates the foot 21 away from blade 29 but no locking action now takes place as pin 37 Fig. 2 now has a passage by way of gate 34, Fig. 5 into channel 36, thus allowing the tube to return, by gravity action, to the bottom position. On the tube being again brought into action pin 37 again enters slot 35 by way of gate 34.

Fig. 7 shows an improved method of electrically connecting the desired carriage 13.

As herein shown the conductors are enclosed in the tube 14 and are brought out toxthe several spring contacts 61 which engage, on the carriage being elevated with the tube, with the contacts 62 mounted on the carriage.

In Fig. 7 the upper carriage is shown as being engaged with the bank 9 whilst the connection to the lower carriage is shown as disconnected at 61'-62.

Guide'rod 63-now serves to carriages in alignment.

Each switch in addition to the carriage 50, 51, 52, etc.,.comprises a pivotal member embodying two arms 64: carried by the carriage, a holder 65 pivoted upon the said member constituted by said arms (Se-6e, springs 65* between the member 6464: and holder 65, normally holding the latter in predetermined relative position and fingers maintain the .66ofrelatively stiff metal mounted in each holder.

hat I? claim is 1. Motor mechanism for purposes such as herein referred to, comprising a unidirec- 'tionali rotating shaft, carriers thereon each having a radially arranged slot, a blade adapted to slide in such lots, devices upon the blade extending beyond the carriers, and a stationary cam arrangement with which said devices cooperate, the said cam arrangement in the course of a revolution of theshaft causing an edge of the blade to be constrained to move in a straight path of limited extent, tangential to a'circle with the shaft: axis as centre, substantially as described.

2. Motor mechanism for purposes such as herein referred to, comprising a unidirectional rotating shaft, disc carriers thereon each having a series of radially arranged slots, a multiplicity of blades adapted to slide in such slots, devices upon the blades extending beyond the disc carriers, and a. stationary cam arrangement with which said devices cooperate, the said cam arrangement causing a succession of straight line movements to be attained by the blades in the course of a single revolution of the shaft, which movements are tangential to a circle with the shaft axis as centre.

3. In a machine telephone system, a horizontally arranged rotating shaft, mechanism driven thereby embodying a series of radially movable blades, a stationary cam arrangement which during a portion of the revolution of the shaft causes the blades to perform straight line lifting movements tangential to a circle with the shaft axis as centre, a series of elements adapted to be reciprocated and means whereby any such element can be temporarily engaged with one of the lifting blades in order to be lifted thereby, substantially as described.

4. In a machine telephone system, a horizontally arranged shaft, variable speed gear for rotating such shaft, mechanism driven by said shaft embodying a series of radially movement is effected. substantially as described.

5. In a machine telephone. system, motor mechanism embodying a series. of lifting blades, each blade having a roll edge notched at intervals, a series of elements adapted to:

be reciprocated and capable of angular movements and devices projecting from such elements adapted to pass through said notches and be engaged with and disengaged from the roll edge of any such blade,-

substantially as described.

6. In a machine telephone system, a series of vertically arranged elements adapted to be reciprocated, means adapted to lift said elements and electromagnetic means adapted to selectively impart angular movement to such elements to place the same in driving connection for a predetermined time with the. lifting means aforesaid, substantially as described.

7. In a machine telephone system, a series of vertically arranged elements, a series of vertically arranged members, means for temporarily clutching said members to said elements, electro-magnetic means adapted to selectively impart angular movement to such elements to place the samein driving connection for a predetermined time with the lifting means and electro-magnetic means for preselectively operating the clutching means and connecting an element and member together for simultaneous lifting.

8. In a machine telephone system, the combination with a vertical" series of switches, of a vertical element common to all thereof, a motor for imparting vertical movementto said element, electromagnetically operated means for imparting angular I movement to said element to place the same in temporary driving connection with the motor, a stationary guide, means also operated by the electromagnetic means aforesaid for rotating and temporarily looking to be lifted thereby the lifted element to the guide whilst disconnected from the motor and means for preselectively connecting one or more of the switches to the vertical element, with which they. are associated, before the lifting of such element occurs. 1

9. In a machine telephone system, a vertically arranged tubular element adapted to be mechanically lifted, a stationary guide rod within the tubular element, means for lifting said element to varying extents and means for angularly moving the said element and frictionally binding the same to the guioe rod when its lifting movement is arrested, substantially as described.

10. In a machine telephone system, a vertically arranged tubular element adapted to be mechanically lifted, capable of being angularly displaced and slotted for a part of its length, a stationary guide rod within the tubular element having a rib adjacent to the slot in the tubular member, a device feathered to the slotted part of the tubular member and through which the latter can be lifted, said device being adapted upon angular movement to bind the tubular element to the rib of the guide rod, means for lifting the tubular element to varying heights and means for anguiarly moving the binding device to eifect the binding aforesaid when the lifting movement is arrested.

11. In a machine telephone system, a vertically arranged tubular element adapted to be mechanically lifted against the action of gravity, capable of being angularly displaced and slotted for a part of its length, a stationary guide rod within such tubular element having a pair of parallel grooves communicating through gates at the top and bottom of the rib which exists between the grooves, rotary motor mechanism, a device upon the tubular element, means adapted to angularly displace said device to bring the same alternately into and out of engagement with the motor mechanism and e able it to be thereby reciprocated, another device feathered to both the tubular element and guide rod so that it is moved angularly by the tubular element in such a manner that it and the tubular element aforesaid are capable of only a restricted angular movement between the limits of lifting movement and thus can act to bind the guide and tubular element together, and means whereby the said feathered device is free to make a lar er excursion at the ends of the reciprocation and permit of the tubular element occupying an angular position which during movement in one direction is different to that during movement in the opposite direction, substantially as described.

12. In a machine telephone system, a bank of contacts divided into horizontal sections, a series of Wiper switches in vertical alignment adapted to establish connection when a call is being dealt with, means whereby only that particular switch of the series which is in the Zone of contacts comprised in any one section of the bank is set in action, and caused to travel, the other switches of the series remaining idle and stationary, means for temporarily arresting the travel of the switch selected to be travelled, means for thereafter causing the travel of the switch to be resumed until a predetermined distance has been traversed and means for thereafter automatically liberating the switch and allowing it to return to starting position by gravity.

13. In a machine telephone system, the combination with a reciprocating member of a vertical series of carriages loosely associated with such member, switch members pivoted to said carriages, means for initially latching all the switch members to their carriages in inoperative position, electromagnetically operated trippin means for enabling the latching means of any single switch to be released, and allowing the latter to occupy its operative position, means for then clutching the carriage of such switch member to the reciprocating member and means for automatically moving the switch member into inoperative position, declutching the carriage from the reciprocating member and again latching the switch member to its carriage whereupon the latter is free to descend by gravity, substantially as described.

14. An arrangement according to the preceding claim comprising trippers corre sponding in number to the switches employed, a rod parallel to the reciprocating member upon which the trippers are angu larly displaced, said reciprocating member being notched at intervals, ratchet and pawl means whereby said rod can be intermittently rotated and a device having arms corresponding in number to the trippers, also secured upon the rod and any one of which is adapted to enter a notch in the reciprocating member so as to briefly couple the rod to the reciprocating member and allow a portion of the longitudinal movement of the latter to be imparted to the trippers, substantially as described.

15. In a machine telephone system, a switch comprising a carriage, a pivotal member carried thereby, a holder pivoted upon said member, springs between the member and holder aforesaid normally holding the same in predetermined relative positions and fingers of relatively stiff metal mounted in such holder, substantially as described.

Signed at London, England, this 30th day of May, 1922.

THOMAS LENAGHAN. 

